Quick-release closure for pressure vessels



United States Patent Ofiflce 3,076,577 QUICK-RELEASE CLOSURE FOR PRESSURE VESSELS Ralph P. Craig, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Red Point Corporation, Burbank, Calif;, a corporation of Cahfornia Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,707 11 Claims. (Cl. 220-40) This invention relates to quick-release closure means for pressure vessels.

The invention has for an object to provide power means, whether manually or pressure-fluid operated, for operating vessel-closure means to close a vessel or open the same in arapid, safe and expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of the character indicated that affords visual inspection of the vessel-closing means at all times to insure safe operation of vessels using high inner pressures whether positive or negative.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the-character referredto that operates in connection with a safety valvje to insure closingof the vessel under normal inner pressures.

This invention also has forits objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangement of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description-and which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example, only. i a

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a partly broken plan view of a pressure vessel provided with quick-release closure means according to the. present invention. 1

FIG; 21's a. sideelevational view thereof with portions of the vessel broken away.

1 FIG. 3. isa vertical, andfragmentary sectional view as taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG- 4 is an enlarged. detail. sectional. view showing locking means used in the present invention;

The drawing; shows a conventional vessel 5 having an outer flange 6, and a lid or cover 7 for said vessel and having an outer flange 8. Said flanges 6 and 8 are mating flanges, one. of which, the flange 8, mounting a sealing ring 9 that projects to seal against the flange 6. Thus, when the lid closes over the vessel, a non-metallic seal therebetween is effected rather than. having a metal-tometal sealor contact between the flanges '6 and 8. The ring 9 preferably comprises a.syntheticrubber O-ring, the same being retained with thelid due to adovetail groove .10 being provided therefor.

The present closure means for tightly connecting the flanges 6 and 8 and closing the lid .7 over. the vessel 5 comprises, generally; a complement of studs 15 aflixed to the flange 6 of the vessel and extending vertically upwardly from the upper faceof said flange, a cam ring 16 rotationally slidingly disposed upon the flange 8 of the lid and cooperating with the studs to. connect said flanges 6, and 8 uponrotation in one direction and to release said flanges to enable separation of the lid and vessel. upon rotation in the opposite direction, power means 17 for rotating the ring 16 in the direction desired, and anormally-closed safety valve 18 that opens to excessive-pressure in the vessel and is .held open bythe cam ring until the same reaches a position that surely and tightly locks together the vessel and the lid.

The-studs 15 are fixed in any suitable manner to the flange 6, each stud comprising a shank 19 and a head 20 with a portion 21 of the under face of said head normal to the axis of the stud and a portion 22, sloping at an acute angle to the plane of portion 21. Said studs are preferably uniformly spaced on the flange 6, FIG. 1 showing four of the eight studs of the vessel illustrated.

The cam ring 16 has a sliding engagement with the top faceof flange 8 which is flat and smooth to provide minimum resistance to rotational sliding of the ring over said flange. A set of keyhole slots 23 is provided in said ring on the same circumferential spacing of the studs 15. As shown in FIG. 1, each slot 23 has an enlargement 24 through which the stud heads 20 may freely pass and a narrower arcuate extension 25 that accommodates the stud shanks 19 but is diametrally smaller than the stud heads. -In association with each keyhole slot 23, the top face of the cam ring is provided with a sloping wedge cam face 26 that slopes upwardly from about the center of the keyhole enlargement 24 to a level 27 that is above the level 28 of the ring between the keyhole slots. The slope of face 26 terminates before the end of arcuate extension 25 so that a portion of said slot extension is.

has been placed on the vessel with the O-ring 9 still uncompressed to space apart the complementary faces of the flanges 6 and 8 and the stud heads 20 project through said flange holes 29 and slot enlargements 24, is shown as a down-reaching finger 30 on the ring 16 outside of and adjacent to the periphery of said flanges 6 and 8, a nut 31 in the form of a spool with flanges 32 engaging opposite edges of said finger, a lead screw 33 which extends through the nut 31, spaced bearings 34 and 35 between which the lead screw extends and which are affixed, as by welding, to the vessel 5, a collar 36 on the screw to abut one side face of bearing 35, and a handle 37 having abutment with the opposite side face of said bearing, said collar and handle holding the screw 33 against endwise movement whereby rotation of the screw moves the nut 31 between the bearings 34 and 35 in a direction according. to the direction of rotation of the handle 37.

In the present case, the nut 31 abuts or is immediately adjacent to the bearing 34 when the flange holes 29 and slot enlargements 24 are in register. Now, when the lid 7 is applied so the stud heads 20 pass through such registered holes and enlargements, the finger 30 is aligned with the spool 31 and, as the lid is moved toward the open top of the vessel, extends behind the spool between the flanges 32 thereof, with the tongue having a nonrotational engagement with the spool. Although the O-ring is uncompressed, the stud heads 20 extend clear of the level 28 of the cam ring but the level faces 21 of the heads are below the level of the faces 27 of said cam ring.

The closure is tightened by rotating handle 37 and, therefore, the lead screw 33, to cause the nut to travel in a direction away from the bearing 34. The latter, through finger 30, rotates the ring 16 in a clockwise direction so that the cam faces 26 engage the sloping portions 22 of the stud heads. This wedging engagement causes downward pressure on the ring 16 and the lid flange 8 and a non-rotative compression of the O-ring 9'. When the level portions 21 of the stud heads overlap the level sur- P'atented Feb. 5, 1963..

faces 27 of the cam ring, the stud shanks 19 will engage the end of the narrower arcuate extensions 25 of the slots 23. This position provides the limit of compression of O-ring 9 and effects uniform, non-abrading compression of the O-ring, although a rotational movement is used to cause such compression.

It will be seen that the holding devices of the closure are at all times exposed to visual inspection, enhancing the safety aspects of the structure.

To insure that the lid is being secured with the vessel under normal pressure, a projection 40 on the finger 30 holds the valve 18 open until the closure means, above described, is properly operated to effect tight closing of the lid. When said valve is released by projection 40, the same assumes a normally closed position and, thereafter, will open only to relieve pressure in the vessel or when the closure is being operated in the reverse direction to release the lid for removal from the Vessel.

In this instance the projection 40 extends inwardly beneath the vessel flange 6. Therefore, the same is mounted on a hinge that allows the same to fold and be clear of flange 6 when the lid is being removed. As an alternative, the valve 18 may be placed so as to be controlled by the lower edge of the finger 3t) instead of a projection 40, as shown.

The means 17 may be hydraulically operated and two such means may be provided at diametrally opposite sides of the vessel. A single controller may operate such two means.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A quick-release closure for two-part pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of one vessel part and through openings in the other vessel part,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the latter vessel part and having openings with enlargements through which the heads of said studs extend,

(c) wedge cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot, and

(d) power means to rotate the ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect a wedging engagement between said cams and the faces of the stud heads engaged therewith.

2. A quick-release closure according to claim 1 including a compression ring between the vessel parts to seal therebetween when the cam ring and said latter vessel part are forced by the stud heads in a direction toward the other vessel part.

3. A quick-release closure according to claim 1 in which the wedge cams and the stud heads have engaged and complementary wedge faces.

4. A quick-release closure for lid-provided pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of the vessel and through holes in the lid thereof,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the lid and having keyhole slots through the enlargements of which the heads of said studs extend,

(c) wedge cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot, and

((1) power means to rotate the ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect a wedging engagement between said cams and the faces of the stud heads engaged therewith.

5. A quick-release closure for lid-provided pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of the vessel and through holes in the lid thereof,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the lid and having keyhole slots through the enlargements of which the heads of said studs extend,

(c) wedge cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot,

(d) power means to rotate the ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect a wedging engagement between said cams and the faces of the stud heads engaged therewith, and

(e) a compression ring between the vessel and lid to seal therebetween when the cam ring and the lid are forced by the stud heads in a direction toward the open end of the vessel.

6. A quick-release closure according to claim 5 provided with a safety valve to release excessive internal pressure in the vessel, and means on the cam ring to engage and hold said valve open until the closure is tightened.

7. A quick-release closure for lid-provided pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of the 'vessel and through holes in the lid thereof,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the lid and having keyhole slots through the enlargements of which the heads of said studs extend.

(c) wedge cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot,

(d) a projection on said cam ring beyond the periphery thereof, and

(e) power means carried by the vessel and engaged with said projection to rotate said ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect a wedging engagement between the cams on the ring and the faces of the respective stud heads engaged with said cams.

8. A quick-release closure for lid-provided pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of the vessel and through holes in the lid thereof,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the lid and having keyhole slots through the enlargements of which the heads of said studs extend,

(c) wedge cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot,

(d) a projection on said cam ring beyond the periphery thereof,

(e) power means carried by the vessel and engaged with said projection to rotate said ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect a wedging engagement between the cams on the ring and the faces of the respective stud heads engaged with said cams, and

(f) a compression ring between the vessel and lid to seal therebetween when the cam ring and the lid are forced by the stud heads in a direction toward the open end of the vessel.

9. A quick-release closure for lid-provided pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of the vessel and through holes in the lid thereof,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the lid and having keyhole slots through the enlargements of which the heads of said studs extend,

(c) wedge cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot,

(d) a projection on said cam ring beyond ery thereof,

(2) a nut engaged with said projection,

the periph- (f) a lead screw extending through said nut and rotationally mounted on the vessel, and

(g) a handle on the lead screw to rotate the same on its axis to move said nut longitudinally of said axis to move said projection and thereby rotate the cam ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect a wedging engagement between the cams on the ring and the faces of the respective stud heads engaged 'with said cams.

10. A quick-release closure for lid-provided pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of the vessel and through holes in the lid thereof,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the lid and having keyhole slots through the enlargements of which the heads of said studs extend,

-(c) wedge cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot,

(d) a projection on said cam ring beyond the periphery thereof,

(2) a nut engaged with said projection,

(f) a lead screw extending through said nut and rotationally mounted on the vessel,

(g) a handle on the lead screw to rotate the same on its axis to move said nut longitudinally of said axis to move said projection and thereby rotate the cam 5 ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect 'a wedging engagement between the cams on the ring i l I and the faces of the respective stud heads engaged with said cams, and

(h) a compression ring between the vessel and lid to seal therebetween when the cam ring and the lid are forced by the stud heads in a direction toward the open end of the vessel.

11. A quick-release closure for lid-provided pressure vessels comprising (a) a complement of headed studs projecting from the open end of the vessel through holes in the lid thereof, the heads of said studs having sloping wedge faces,

(b) a cam ring disposed on the lid and having keyhole slots through the enlargements of which the heads of said studs extend,

(c) cams on said ring operatively associated with each said slot and having wedge faces that are complementary to the wedge faces of the stud heads extending through the respective slots, and

(d) power means to rotate the ring relative to the vessel and the studs to effect a wedging engagement between said cams and the faces of the stud heads engaged therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A QUICK-RELEASE CLOSURE FOR TWO-PART PRESSURE VESSELS COMPRISING (A) A COMPLEMENT OF HEADED STUDS PROJECTING FROM THE OPEN END OF ONE VESSEL PART AND THROUGH OPENINGS IN THE OTHER VESSEL PART, (B) A CAM RING DISPOSED ON THE LATTER VESSEL PART AND HAVING OPENINGS WITH ENLARGEMENTS THROUGH WHICH THE HEADS OF SAID STUDS EXTEND, (C) WEDGE CAMS ON SAID RING OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH SAID SLOT, AND (D) POWER MEANS TO ROTATE THE RING RELATIVE TO THE VESSEL AND THE STUDS TO EFFECT A WEDGING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID CAMS AND THE FACES OF THE STUD HEADS ENGAGE THEREWITH. 